Favorite USA Travel Destination

What is your absolutely favorite U S travel destination and why?  I've been to lots of places but perhaps there's a beautiful site I have missed.

It is really difficult to narrow it down to just one! I love Bryce Canyon in Utah (and many of the surrounding canyonland areas as well) - the intense blue of the sky with the red of the rock formations is stunning and makes it impossible to take a bad photo!

But I also love the coast of Maine, especially in late spring or early summer when the hills are covered with lupines - always reminds me of the story, "Miss Rumphius" which I enjoyed reading to my kids. Foggy days bring their own special beauty and the food is delicious up that way!

My hobby is photography, so anywhere where I can shoot some scenery, some fantastic light, some interesting animals or whatever, is fine with me! My husband, on the other hand, prefers a nice golf course in close proximity to wherever we might be.

I tend to prefer cities as in a short time period you can have a lot of different experiences - see a park or a zoo, be on a lake or river waterfront, visit a museum, go to a concert or theater, great restaurants, interesting architecture, get some exercise by walking and so on. Also it's easier to plan, you can just get a taxi or an Uber or walk etc.

I'm going to be in Chicago next week and look forward to it. I think a lot of people dismiss it as a place that is cold, has lots of crime, the only good food is deep-dish pizza and hot dogs, and that's a mistake.

I also enjoy going off the beaten path - if you go to DC and just see the monuments and museums, or to New Orleans and spend all of your time in the Quarter, you're missing a lot.

apple44 said:
I tend to prefer cities as in a short time period you can have a lot of different experiences - see a park or a zoo, be on a lake or river waterfront, visit a museum, go to a concert or theater, great restaurants, interesting architecture, get some exercise by walking and so on. Also it's easier to plan, you can just get a taxi or an Uber or walk etc.
I'm going to be in Chicago next week and look forward to it. I think a lot of people dismiss it as a place that is cold, has lots of crime, the only good food is deep-dish pizza and hot dogs, and that's a mistake.
I also enjoy going off the beaten path - if you go to DC and just see the monuments and museums, or to New Orleans and spend all of your time in the Quarter, you're missing a lot.

 Would add that a city or vibrant town in close proximity to dramatic or beautiful nature, like a national park, makes for a great travel destination.   

Glacier National Park in Montana has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Since you can't fly directly there, it tends to be less crowded. Beautiful scenery and amazing wildlife.

Mendocino/Ft Bragg CA.  Its a ways off the beaten path, the coastal scenery is astounding, food is good and the people are nice.  The weather is always cool in the summer and the fog is the perfect antidote to the heat of California's interior.

Klinker said:
Mendocino/Ft Bragg CA.  Its a ways off the beaten path, the coastal scenery is astounding, food is good and the people are nice.  The weather is always cool in the summer and the fog is the perfect antidote to the heat of California's interior.

We just left this place a few days ago. We got a bad spell of very gloomy weather but the Glass Beach and Skunk Train were cool. 

I can't say I have a favorite US spot. I'm a Disney Dork so Orlando is high on the list. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. 

We really liked the Redwood coast further north in California up north of Eureka. I also loved Sonoma ... We spent one night there and I want to go back. I also want to go back to San Francisco ... I feel like we missed a lot.

New Orleans, Savannah and San Fran are some of my favorite US cities. I go to Orjando for Disney and to Vegas frequently as well but they aren’t my favorite from a city perspective- they just have things I like. We recently bought a condo in Treasure Island, FL and I simply love the whole Gulf Coast and the city/ downtown of St Pete is pretty awesome.

I love Savannah, Martha's Vineyard, New Orleans, Annapolis, Boston and D.C., in no particular order.

There are places I would love to visit but haven't yet:  Yellowstone/Big Sky country, Hawaii, Nashville and Austin.

Was just in Vegas.  Did not like it at all.  The day trips from there were quite nice though: the Grand Canyon and Red Rock Canyon.

mrincredible said:

Klinker said:
Mendocino/Ft Bragg CA.  Its a ways off the beaten path, the coastal scenery is astounding, food is good and the people are nice.  The weather is always cool in the summer and the fog is the perfect antidote to the heat of California's interior.

We just left this place a few days ago. We got a bad spell of very gloomy weather but the Glass Beach and Skunk Train were cool. 

 Unless it was pouring rain with high wind, that was probably the normal summer weather.  I guess its all a matter of perspective.  If you live in interior CA, where the highs regularly go over 110 (and, back in the day, we didn't have AC),  wet and gloomy is paradise.

mrincredible said:

We really liked the Redwood coast further north in California up north of Eureka.  

I don't know if you got a chance to stop in Trinidad which is about 20 miles North of Eureka but, on a clear day, that is one of the most visually stunning spots on the whole West Coast.

I love Mt. Hood and Timberline Lodge in Oregon. Also in Oregon is Crater Lake. You can start in southern Oregon and go to Crater Lake, then drive to the coast and drive up to Portland area to see Mount Hood. Beautiful!

You can fly into Medford Airport and it's only a little over an hour to Crater Lake. Then you fly home from Portland. On your drive north you can see Redwoods.

I agree with New Orleans, Savannah, San Francisco and Austin. To those I would add Santa Fe.  I love going places that feel NOTHING like home!

The barrier islands off Georgia & Florida (Jekyll, Amelia, St Simon's) and San Diego

with a few exceptions, there's no middle class accessibility to Martha's Vineyard at this point. So if you don't have at least $3000/week for a rental, don't bother. If planning far enough in advance, Cape Cod often has some accessibility to us non-millionaires.

peaceinourtime said:
with a few exceptions, there's no middle class accessibility to Martha's Vineyard at this point. So if you don't have at least $3000/week for a rental, don't bother. If planning far enough in advance, Cape Cod often has some accessibility to us non-millionaires.

 Also consider the "2nd season."   September to middle of November. The cape is beautiful then.

One thing I love about Boston and DC is you can go on a whim.  You can decide on a Wednesday or Thursday to take a long weekend, pack a weekend bag, throw it in the car and go.  Two world class, yet very different cities, only a four hour drive away.  My husband and I make at least one trip annually to each city.  We love Boston in September/October and DC in April/May.

Walking on the Esplanade in Boston or over the Mass Ave. Bridge as the sun sets with the rowers on the Charles is sublime.  Lots of great neighborhoods:  The North End, South End, Seaport District, Government Center, Financial District, Public Garden and the Boston Common, Newbury Street, Fenway.  Then you have Cambridge and Harvard Square.  It's such a vibrant and happening city.  We're heading up the weekend of October 20.  Harvard is playing Princeton in football and we have friends with sons playing on each team.

I love the architecture and history in DC.  The National Mall and the Tidal Basin are great walking  areas, especially when the the cherry blossoms are in bloom.  I love the museums and the fact that they are free.  I could spend a day in the National Gallery.  Then you have Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Eastern Market, Kennedy Center.  Alexandria.  Lots to see and do.  It's also a very vibrant and happening place. 

I couldn't possibly pick just one, as there are so many!  

Have been to Charleston a bit, and it never disappoints, nor does Savannah. (But I strongly recommend not heading to either in warm weather if you hope to spend any time outdoors.) And though it is not natural but human-made, I surprised myself at how much I loved Mount Rushmore. Was going to be near there and planned to pass it by, but so many people told me it was worthwhile, and it is. Hard to explain, but you just kind of stand there in awe of what was created, and there are really interesting natural and historic and scenic areas all around that region to round out a trip.

I haven't been everywhere - never been anywhere in the Pacific northwest for example - but the Cape has always been my favorite.  Did a memorable teen hostelling tour in the 1970s that included the Cape and my subsequent adult vacations there have never failed to make me happy.  

Heynj said:
Have been to Charleston a bit, and it never disappoints, nor does Savannah. (But I strongly recommend not heading to either in warm weather if you hope to spend any time outdoors.) And though it is not natural but human-made, I surprised myself at how much I loved Mount Rushmore. Was going to be near there and planned to pass it by, but so many people told me it was worthwhile, and it is. Hard to explain, but you just kind of stand there in awe of what was created, and there are really interesting natural and historic and scenic areas all around that region to round out a trip.

 Have never been to Charleston. What's good there?

Heynj said:
And though it is not natural but human-made, I surprised myself at how much I loved Mount Rushmore...Hard to explain, but you just kind of stand there in awe of what was created, and there are really interesting natural and historic and scenic areas all around that region to round out a trip.

 +1

Did either of you guys see Rushmore at night, when the figures are illuminated with spotlights?

It is wonderful.

I did not. Sounds awesome. Saw Rushmore by day, and filled out the weekend trip with Black Hills, Needles Eye, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse, Devil's Tower, Lead (gold mine), all while staying in Deadwood (even saw a rodeo there).

Train_of_Thought said:
I did not. Sounds awesome. Saw Rushmore by day, and filled out the weekend trip with Black Hills, Needles Eye, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse, Devil's Tower, Lead (gold mine), all while staying in Deadwood (even saw a rodeo there).

 There is a ceremony just after sunset with National Anthem and such. Sorry, the photo issn't that great.

Continental U.S. has so many wonderful destinations that I can't pick just one. Love the National Parks out west.  

We are NOT resort lovers, but the only state where we seek and enjoy them is Hawaii. That's probably because there is so much more than resorting to see and do.

Ditto on the national parks.  Planning a trip to Zion in late Oct or early Nov.

bub said:
Ditto on the national parks.  Planning a trip to Zion in late Oct or early Nov.

If the weather holds out it is a great time of year to go. I believe they only allow their buses on the park roads until November 1st to lessen the congestion.

And if you have time do not miss Bryce Canyon only 90 minutes away.

rhw said:

bub said:
Ditto on the national parks.  Planning a trip to Zion in late Oct or early Nov.

If the weather holds out it is a great time of year to go. I believe they only allow their buses on the park roads until November 1st to lessen the congestion.
And if you have time do not miss Bryce Canyon only 90 minutes away.

 Bryce is great.  On a western multi-park trip years ago, our travels were cut short by a health crisis back home and it was Zion that got short shrift, so I'm focused on Zion.  If my traveling buddy wants to take the day trip to Bryce I'll do it but I'm inclined to make the most of Zion. On the way back to Vegas airport, also intend to hit Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada, which people rave about.

Enjoyed Valley of Fire so much! It was deserted when we were there one August day (years ago) - petroglyphs, jackrabbits, amazing rocks..... I am sure you will enjoy it a lot!

We have also been to Bryce and Zion. I prefer Bryce, my husband favors Zion and both are awe-inspiring. I can't imagine not having a fantastic experience at either.

bub said:
Ditto on the national parks.  Planning a trip to Zion in late Oct or early Nov.

We did a National Park loop the first two weeks of October last year.  It was wonderful - Five National Parks in Utah plus the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (AZ) and Mesa Verde (CO).  We also visited about that many or more State Parks and National Monuments along the way (including a couple of those threatened by the current administration, notably Grand Staircase Escalante.)  Highly recommend!